-Files from University of Alberta Sports Information

The University of Alberta Pandas basketball team completed the weekend sweep of the Winnipeg Wesmen thanks to a strong 84-63 victory on Saturday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton.

With the win the No.10 ranked Pandas improve to 4-0 to start the 2015-16 season. Winnipeg, meanwhile, drops to 1-3 on the year.

The U of A got a dominant game from its veteran back court, as fifth-year guards Megan Wickstrom, Renee Bryne and Jessilyn Fairbanks combined for 43 points, eight assists, seven steals and seven rebounds. Wickstrom led all players on the floor with a game high 19 points, including 12 points off four three-point balls, while Bryne and Fairbanks added 13 points and 11 points respectively. Fourth-year guard Maddie Rogers chipped in with 11 points, six assists and four steals as well.

Third-year forward Elle Hendershot, who is originally from Lubbock, Texas, continued her strong play with seven rebounds, a team high, and nine points. She led the Pandas in assists in game one against Winnipeg, with seven, while also contributing eight rebounds.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, has had a tough start to the season. The Wesmen opened the season with a weekend series in Calgary, where they split with the Dinos, and then had to travel back to the Wild Rose province to play the nationally ranked Pandas.

After hanging with the Pandas on Friday night, the Wesmen were again in the thick of things in Edmonton, sitting tied with the U of A 35-35 at half-time.

They were led by Lena Wenke's team high 18 points, while Skylar Boulanger added 14 points and six rebounds in a solid effort. Taylor Thorkelsson and Kerri Kuzbyt each added nine points, while Thorkelsson also hauled in nine boards.

Winnipeg opened strong, jumping out to a 10-9 lead early in the first quarter, but a 15-3 run by the Pandas, that started late in the opening quarter, paced the Pandas to a 24-13 lead. Winnipeg, however, clawed right back into the game and eventually sent it to half-time at 35-35 when Wenke hit a buzzer beater three-pointer.

The Wesmen outscored Alberta 25-18 in the second quarter, but the Pandas returned the favour in the third quarter when they outscored Winnipeg 28-15 to earn a 63-50 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.

Although Alberta kept the pressure up in the fourth, Winnipeg managed to stay within eight to 10 points for most of the quarter. The Pandas however, backed by a 57% shooting percentage from the floor, including 30% from the three-point line, managed to pad the lead and close out the 21 point win.

The  Wesmen will finally play their home opener next Friday night as they host the Trinity Western Spartans. Tip off is at 6:00 p.m.